Foundry apparatus



Nov. J, 1931. A. E. GEDDES 1,832,626

FOUNDRY APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet l gvwewtoz Nov. 17, 1931. A. E. GEDDES FOUNDRY APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1928 8'Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 17, 1931. A E. GEDDES 1,832,626

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FOUNDRY' APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 33513 Gite 044mg I a Q Nov. 17, 1931. A. E. GEDDES 1,832,626

FOUNDRY APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVFJVTOR. flan/W 67 dw Q? By WA TTORNEY.

Nov. 17, 1931. A. E. GEDDES 1,832,626

FOUNDRY APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 //5 he. ii

. F, v v if g1: mfg -2o7 76 iy I I' R- I t g. 15 is a detail side view of a trip pawl n in Fig. l; and

ig. 16 is a detail view in elevation, and

in section, of a flask-hoisting device.

L ferring to the drawings by characters of A ence, it. designates, generally, a mold 'niing station at which sand molds may be med in the cope and drag sections of a lash. B *lesignates, generally, a sand supply 1 for furnishing sand from which lllOl'ClS are to be formed in the flask sections the station A. C designates a sand-ramming mechan'sm for ramming the sand in the flask sections at the station A, said ramming mechanism specifically not being of my invention. D designates, generally, a turn-table for receiving the mold-containing flasks from the station A and transferring said flasks through a pouring zone E, a cooling Zone F, to a shake-out station G, and then return the empty flasks to the moldforming station A. The foregoing brief description is given so as to make clear the several functions in mold-making and casting performed by the preferred embodiment shown.

it the mold-making station A and upon the floor 1, is located a pattern stand 2, which may be of any well known form carrying a mold pattern, for example that for making a loop or section of a house-heating radiator. This stand is adapted to support the cope or the drag of a two-part flask, and which when in position on said stand is adapted to receive molding sand which is rammed in the flask and upon the pattern to form one-l1alf of a sand mold having a print formed by the pattern and adapted to form one-half of a complete mold cavity to receive the casting metal. he cope and drag parts of the flask after the application of a suitable core, are then brought together with the sand mold prints matching to form a mold cavity for producing the desired external contour for the article to be pr duced, for example, a radiator section for heating purposes. It will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific structure of this pattern stand, as it may be of any of the well liinown forms of the type mentioned, which is well known in the art, and for this reason it is not necessary to more specifically illust "ate or describe the same. All of the apparatus above described, with the exception hereinafter mentioned, is supported upon a suitable foundation or floor 1.

Means for furnishing sand to the pattern stand to fill a flask element thereon and form a mold partconforming to the pattern on said stand will nowbe described: Beneath the floor 1 is a horizontally rotatable sand treating or mixing drum 3, which may be of any well known form adapted to mix or treat molding sand to render it capable of use for forming green sand molds, said drum being driven by a suitable motor 3 and gearing 3". This drum receives sand through a chute l leading from the shake-out station G, and also sand from a spill chute 5 which receives the excess spill sand from a hopper 6 located under a floor grating 7 upon which the pattern stand is located. The treated sand is delivered from the end 8 of the drum 3, into a receptacle 9, in which is located the lower end of an endless bucket conveyor 10, which passes upward through an opening in the floor 1 and through a boot ll above id floor. The upper end of said conveyor charges the sand into a chute 12 which empties into a distributing or supply hopper 13 which is supported overhead. on a suitable framework or superstructure 14:. The superstructure is built up of suitable vertical columns 15 and (moss-members 16 of structural steel elemci'its of any suitable do: i. T he conveyor 10 is driven by a suitable motor 17 and intermediate gearing l8 geared to the driven shaft 19, upon which the conveyor drive pulley 19, or its equivalent, is mounted.

The hopper 13 is mien-bottomed and discharges into a sand delivery apparatus which deposits the sand into a flair element located. on said pattern stand, which delivery apparatus will now be described, referring 1281' ticularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 7: Supported on said. supei tructure or frame are opposltely disposed pai rs of upper and lower guide rails 20, 21 maintained in spaced parallel relal by spacer brackets 22 riveted to s id r and connected by cross bars 22, said ra' being supported from the supertructure 0; frame by brackets 23 riveted to the fran e and to the lower rail 21 of each pair, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. These pairs of rails incline downwards and extend parallel to the oblique or inclined lower end of the hopper 13. Arranged to be rccipro=::ated between the rails 20, 21 is a rectangular carrier fr? me 24. made up of longitudinal members and transverse members 26 rigidly connected. id frame caii'rying two transvc shafts 27 in bearings 27 on the memb upon which shafts are journaled flanged running wheels 28 located between the rails 20, 21 and sewing to guide the carrier frame in its i'eci}')roc:a-- tions. At its lower end portion the carrier f 'ame carries a hopper or bucket 2:) w 'ch s substantially rectangular in horizontal crosssection, and is open at it top and bottom. lVhen the carrier frame 1 its ractcd m upper position, as shown in full lines in F 7, this hopper or bucket 29 located dire .zly beneath the lower open end 9 the sand supply hopper 13 to receive sand 1. nm the latter. Cooperating with the lower opn end of the bucket 29 is closure valve 30 suspended by side members 31 from pivots 32 on the sides of the hopper 29, the arrangement being such that the valve normally tends to swing or gravitate to the closed position shown in full lines in Fig. 7. When in the position shownin full lines, the bucket receives and retains sui'licient sand to form cope or drag mold at the pattern stand. In rear of the bucket 29 the space between the frame 1 embers of the carrier frame is closed by a plate 2 which serves a purpose to be presently de scribed, and which is suitably secured to said members 25.

Pivoted, as at 34, on the stationary main frame is one end of a lever 35, the other end of which is connected, as at 36, to one end a link 37, the other end of which is connected pivotally, as at 88, to a bracket 89 on theoottom of the wire or movable bottom 30 of the hopper 29. When the carrier is in u pper position, the valve 30, link 37, and lever are in the position shown in full lines in 7. but when the carrier is moved downwards to carry the hopper 29 to the position shown in dotted lines, the lever strikes a stop member in the form of a horizontal bar 35,

igidly supported on the main frame, just before the carrier reaches its lowest point, so that movement of the valve will be arrested and further movement of the carrier will cause the valve to swing to the poition shown in dotted lines, whereby the sand in the bucket will be deposited by gra *ity into a flask supported on the pattern stand. The plate 25 bridges the space between the side members 25 of the reciprocable carrier frame and is so arranger. that the forward edge thereof, when the frame in retracted position, is located approximately at the lower edge of the rear wall of the hopper 13, said plate being of such length that when the frame descends to the position shown in the dotted lines, the plate will pass under and close the lower end of the hopper thereby preventing fall of sand therefrom during reciprocation of the frame.

The carrier frame reciprocated by means of double acting power cylinder 39 supported by the cross-members lO riveted to the side rails This cylinder contains a piston (not shown), which is mounted on a piston rod ll pivotally connected, as at 42, to a bracket as fixed on the rear wall of the hopper or bucket 29. Power fluid under pressure, such as compressed air, is supplied to the opposite ends of the cylinder and on opposite sides of the piston by means of supply pipes ts, connected to oppositely disposed ports i-l e5 in the casing of a fourway valve lli of any suitable type, for example shown in Fig. 11. This valve is located at the mold-making station A. and is supplied vith pressure fluid through a pipe 47 and port 47 and has an exhaust port 48 exhausting to atmosphere. The pipe 47 is connected to a branch pipe l? which is connected to and receives compressed air from a supply pipe lin t7. The valve ports may be cone trolled by a turn plug 49 having passages 50', 51 soformed and arranged that pipe 44 may be connected to the supply port, and the pipe 45 be connected to the exhaust 48, or pipe 44 may be connected to the exhaust 48 and pipe l5 to the supply. .Vhen pipe 44 is connected to the supply 47 and pipe 45 to the exhaust, the carrier is caused to descend to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, and when pipe d4: is connected to the exhaust, and pipe 45 to the supply, the carrier is returned to the position shown in full lines and held in this position by the air pressure beneath the piston. The valve plug may be manually operated by a pull-line 52 connected to a lever 53 on the plug. Upward movement of the carrier is limited by lugs 54 on the carrier striking stop-buffers 55 fixed to the cross-member 40, while downward movement is arrested by the lugs 54 striking against stop-buffers 56 fixed to the lower cross-member 40. l Vhen the operator desires to supply sand to a flask on the pattern stand, the valve 46 is operated to admit fluid pressure to the upper end of cylinder 39, and to connec the lower end of the cylinder to the exhaust, whereupon the carrier and bucket 29 moves downwarc. toward the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7. When the carrier has moved to a position where the bucket is approximately over the pattern stand, lever 35 strikes against stop 85 and continued travel of the carrier causes the bucket-valve 30 to be held back and assume the position shown in dotted lines, whereby the charge of sand is discharged by gravity into the flask.

The sand-ramming apparatus C is preferably of the construction shown by U. S. Patent Number 1,536,031 to Redpath and Bliss, granted April 28, 1925. This construction is illustrated in some detail in Fig. 8, so that the manner in which it cooperates in the combination constitutin the present invention will be clear. The mechanism comprises overhead parallel flanged trackways 56, from which is suspended a carriage frame 57 having running wheels 58 travelling on flanges on said rails. This carriage is adapted to be reciprocated on the track rails by any suitable means which may be that described in said patent to Redpath and Bliss, and including an electric motor 59 transmitting motion through gearing 60 to an endless drive chain 60* h ving projections (not shown) adapted to cooperate with an abutment device 61 on said carriage to reciprocate the same. ()n the carriage is a horizontal shaft 62 carrying eccentrics 63 upon which are eccentric straps 6% connected to pitmen rods 64: Each rod 6% has pivoted thereto a hanger member 65 supporting at its lower end a rammer foot 66. The shaft 62 is driven by a power chain 67 from an electric motor 68 suitably supported on the carriage frame. All of the elements thus briefly described are fully described in said patent to Redpath and Bliss, to which reference is made, and it is believed further specific description is unnecessary.

The rails upon which the carrier frame for the sand bucket travels, and the rails upon which the rammer carrier travels, are arranged at right angles to each other, as will be apparent from Figs. 1, 2 and 11, and are of 1 such length that the sand-supplying bucket 29 may first take position over the pattern stand to deliver sand thereto, at which time the rammor carriage will be withdrawn from ramming); relation to the pattern stand, and the s d-supply bucket may then be withdrawn from position over the stand, and the rammcr arriage moved forward to cause the rammer feet to ram the sand which has previously been deposited from the bucket 29 in a flask element on the pattern stand.

I will now proceed to describe means constituting a feature of the present invention, whereby the relative operation of the sandsupplying ap iaratus and the ramming apparatus in the manner just described, may be accomplished: The rammer motors 59 and G8 are of any suitable three-phase alternating current type supplied with current from current supply conductors 69, Z 0, Tl (see Fi l9), both motors being on the same circuit so that they may be driven simultaneously. This motor circuit is suitably and preferably controlled so that it will be closed to start the motors by movement of the sand bucket carrier 2a, so that the rammer motors will be energized sii'nultaneously when the sand bucket carrier moves upward or away from the pattern stand after a charge of sand has been delivered to the flask, the energization taking place after the bucket 29 has cleared the pattern stand. The leads 69, 79, 71 are connected respectively to the fixed contacts T2, 73 and 7a of a magnetically operated switch T l of well known commercial design and including movable contacts '75, T6, 77 adapted to close simultaneously the circuit at the contacts '72, 73, 74:. The contacts 75, T6, T7 are actuated simultaneously by the core or a solenoid 78. The contacts '75, 76, 77 connected respectively to leads '29, SO, 81 connected to the motors 59 and 6S. l i hen the magnetic switch circuit is closed to the supply line, both motors are supplied with current and simultaneously drive the propelling chain 60 and the shaft 62. The switch 74* may be that known on the market as an ii len Bradley across line magnetic starting switch J 1552.

mount d on the main frame is a push-butn switch S2 of well known form :luoinp; spaced contacts (see Fig. 10) with which cooperates a movable contactmcmber 8 loperated by push-button 85. The contact 84 is normally held by a spring (not shown) out of contact with the Lseacee contacts 83. One of the contacts 83 is connected by a lead 86 to a contact 87 of a manually operable starting switch 88 located at the station A, and which also includes a con tact 87* which is connected by a lead 89 to the other contact 83. The switch 88 includes a contact member 89 operable by a push button 90 to connect the contacts 87, 87 The member 89 is normally maintained out of contact with the contacts 8. 87 by means of a spring (not shown). The left hand contac of switch 82 is connected directly by a lead 91 to the supply conductor 71. The contact 87 and the lead 89 is con nected to a contact 92 of a normally closed push-button switch 93 which also includes a contact 94. The contacts 92 and 9d are normally closed by a contact member 95 adapted to be operated by a push-button 96, the contact member 95 being held normally closed by means of a spring, not shown. The switches 88 and 93 are of well known commcrcial l'orm obtainable on the market, and therefore it is not believed further detailed description thereof is necessary. The contact 9 1 is connected by a lead 9? to the sole noid 78, which is in turn connected by a lead 98 to the current supply line 69. The circuit is such that when the switch 82 is operated to close the circuit at the contacts 83, the currei'it will llow from the lead 7i through the switch 82, lead 89, closed switch 93, lead 92, the solenoid 78 and lead 98 to the supply line 69, which energizes the magnetic switch to close the circuit through the motors 68 and 59. As heretofore stated, the svitch 833 is mounted. on the main frame, for example, by .means of a bracket member 82 acent the upper end oi? sand-supplying apparatus. On the bracket 2" is a bracket 99, upon which is fulcrumcd, as at 100, trip member, preferably in the form of a bcll-crank lever 101, one member of which is arrai s; with its end 1 2 in the path oi movementof the carrier frame 2%, preferably an angle bar 103. The end 10 of the other member of the bellcrank lever is provided with an aperture 105, through which projects a vertical rod 106, which is provided on its end with a stop collar 107 beneath the end 10 i of the bell-crank lever, so that when the member 102 oi the bell-crank lever swung toward the left of F 9, the downward pull will be exerted upon rod 106. The rod 106 at its upper end passes u giviard through an opening in the bracket 82 and through an opening in a floating lever 108, said rod carrying on its upper end above the lever 108 "a stop collar 109, which when rod 106 is moved downward will impart a downward move ment to said floating lever. This lever 10S overlies the push-button 85 of the switch and carries an adjustable contact screw 110 adapted to engage the push-button 85 when the lever 108 is moved down. One end of :ment with the stop nuts 113.

:nut .116 threaded on said bolt and servir;

the lever 10.8.is apertured to receive guide bolt 111 rigidly connected to the member 82*, as at 112, and having at its upperend stop collars or nuts 113. Surrounding the bolt 111 and beneath the lever 1-08, is a cushion spring 11 1 wl abuts lever and the member mally hold the lever 108 in'cngae At its opposite end the lever is apertured to slide upon a guide bolt-115, said bolt being provided with an adjustable stop abutment, conslstng ot a to limit the dowrnvard movement 02E that end of leverlOS which s mounted on the bolt 115. Tl e lever 108 is yieldmgly held again t the stop 116 by means ol anexnansion spring 117 ATP-21,112; on the bolt and above said lever, the ends of said spring abutting the upner side of the lever and the underside of an adjustable spring abutment 118 on the bolt. The arrangement is such that when the carrier frame 24; of the sand-supplying apparatus moved downward, the member 103 will strike the lower end of the bcll-cranlr lever to raise the end. of the latter, but due to the loose connection between the end 104 the rod 106, the latter will not be operated to cause actuation of the switch rush-button .85 of switch 82. After he sand has been deposited in the fiaslr at the pattern stand. the return. movement of the carr er frame 24. will cause the member. 108 to strike the end 102 of the bell-crank lever 101, which wil move the end 10 1 downward to exert a downward pull on rod 106. The downward pull on rod 106 will pull down the left-hand end of lever 108 against the tension ofsprin '11 l,the abutment 116 on bolt 115 1: cting as olcrum for d. lever 1.08.. whereunon the bolt 1.1.0 will shire th pushlmtton cm .fiq the contact 8% to connect the contact 88. thus energizing the solenoid 7 8 and sum viug current to motors 59 and 68. The do 'n lever 108 mav be nrovided w th an adiustable ston bolt 11.9 adanted to li i t downward movement of lever 108. so prevent too thrust of bolt 11.0 the push-lmtton,with consequent inju to the switch...

hen the motors 59 and 68 are energized, the ramming apparatus will traverse a flask on the pattern stand and ram the sand in the fl sh and will then return to its starting position, due to the drive arrangement by the endless chain which is fully set forth in said patent to Rednath and Bliss. It will thus be seen that the sand-supplyin apparatus serves to control or ni ate r ciprocat on of the ramming a us acro. s the mold. When 7 .pparatus has returned to its startin, on. pivo ed trip device'119 thereon zrip la e '1 120 on the trackway which serves to open a switch 121 on the retainer carriage and located in the lead 97 to break the circuit through the latter and the solenoid to open the magnetic switch to stop the rammer carriage at its starting or initial position. The switch 121 is of a commercial push-button type normally held closed'by spring (not shown) which auto-z1 w .u'iatically closes the switch after the trip 119 has passed the trip latch 120. As shown in said patent to Eedpath and Bliss, the rammer carriage will. be provided with a safety butler 1:22, which upon contact with an obstruction, .7 such as a workman, will exert a rearward thrust on a-noperatin-g member 123 which will cause an upward movement of a plunger rod 12 to actuate the lever 120 .to break the current at the switch 121. If the current bez broken .at the switch 121, the carriage comes to rest, but may be again set in motion by closing manually the starting switch 88, the current to the solenoid 7 8 to close the magnetic switch then being from supply 71 through lead .91, lea-c186. switch 88, switch 93 lead .97, solenoid T8 and lead 98, to current supply line 69, thus closing the magnetic switch. The carriage may be stopped manually at any time by breakin, the current at r.

the stop switch9-3, which will open the circuit through the solenoid and breal: contact at the magnetic switch. The lead 89 is connected by a conductor 89 to contact 89' in the magnetic switch and adapted to be engagged by a contact 89 when the magnetic switch closes. It will be understood that the push-button switch 82 automatically. onens as soon as the member 103 passed the bellcrank lever, but that the current through the 1 solenoid 78 will be maintained through the It will .be seen that during normal opera- .105

tion, the ramming mechanism is under control of the sand delivery mechanism, and unless set in motion by the starting switch 88, cannot traverse the pattern stand until a charge ofm-olding sand has been delivered by the sand delivery mechanism to the pattern stand.

The turn-table D for receiving mold-containing ,flasks from the pattern stand and conveying them through the path heretofore mentioned, will now be described: 011 the floor 1, preferably in line with the transverse center linoof the pattern stand is a bearing socket or step 125 (see Fig. 1) suitably anchored to the floor by bolts 126 and receiving a vertical pivot pin or axle 127, the upper end of which is located in a bearing sleeve 128 having at its upper end a horizontal flange 129. The pin is held in place by aset screw 127. Upon the flange 129 is a center plate .130 upon which aresupported radiating horizontal members 131 preferably of structural steel Lbeams equally spaced circumferentially about the pin 12?, and being of equal length radially from the. said pin which 1391 serves as the center hearing or turning axis of the turn-table. The members 131 corstitute the arms or spokes of the tum-table. Overlying' the inner ends of the spokes or arms is an upper center plate st id arms and the plates 130, 132 bci nxed to flange 129 by means of bolts 133 extendin through said plates. the tlan of the E- and said fiance 129. The outer portions the plates 130, 132 are t'urther seeur d to saio I-heams by belts 1234: passed th ough saie plates and the flanges of the Lbenms. It will be noted that the sleeves and 128 do not contact each other so that there no frietf. between the same. the tab e resting on center pin upon which turns freely.

The outer ends of the arms 13 are connected to each other and held in proper spaced relation by means of bracing members (see Fig. 1). the ends oi which are riveted rigidly to the respective arms.

Adjacent the outer end portions of the arms or spokes 131, and on the under side thereof, is rigidly secured a circular T-rail 136 arranged concentric with the a is o't rotation of the table. The tread 137 of the ra l 186 travels upon a plurality o't bearing" rollers 138 (see F g. 4-\ arranged to rotate on horizontal iourn ls 139 supported by hear ng bracket 140 rigidly bo ted to the finer 1 The weiqht. oi the turn-table is supported the rollers .38. the pin 12? merely servin as an axis of turning movement for the table and no sunnortinrx the same.

In the pref rred embodiment illustrated. t ere are eight of the arms 131. as shown in Fig. 1. so as to provide for the operating stations or zones previously ment oned.

Supported on the outer end portion of ca ch o the arms 131. is a bearing socket 141 ringidlv bo ted to the arm. as at 142 and sup ortinc: :1 vertical pivot pin 14:53 which enters a bearine' socket sleeve 144 on the bottom of a platform 14-5 constituting" a bottom plate or board 14-6 o receive flasks from the nattern st nd. The bottom board. is inclined at an flDQ'lG to the vertical cen ral axis oi the bearine; pin 143. shown in Figs. 2 and for a purpose to be presently descr bed. and maintains this position at :11 points in its rotation on the vertical pivot pin.

On each of the arms 131 at a point between the bottom board and the center ot rotation of the table. is a stanoard or npripfht 117 r idly secured to the arm by angle inem w is and rivets, at 1485 standards are braced and held in vertical ies on by mern of upper radial members the outer ends or" which are riveted to the npecr ends of the uprights, as at ane tl which are riveted, as at 151 These idly by a center-colmnn 15' t to the center of the plate 132. The standards is a top-plate 156, shown in Fi 1, 4- and a but omitted from 2 For the sane o clearness.

Each top rably of a flat rectangular plate member bra ed on its upper or back face by hingitudinal an l transverse ribs 157. 'l'his top plate is pivotally or hingedly connected to the adjacent standard 147 in the following manner: On tile standard 14"? a bracket member 8 having on its outer end an apertu ed ear in which fixed a bearing" pin 160, the of which project on opposite sides of s H ear, as indicated in Fig. 1%- ol the d *awings. 161 designates a hinge member having re; rward arms 162 which straddle ea r 159, and. 2 re provided on the pro with cars 16 3 pivotadly mounted 16 7 the forward or V hinge member is pro- .l etine ends of i -,9; 161 to rece re 2 105 on Flfi'lllgtl en nwunted 1n ea re oi the vided wi l.

bearing 1 provided I project hraclfet th a bear-- 1 1e top plate, an said hinge roa'ided at a po nt between and 1653 with an engagl to cooperate with the top op plate, all in a manner to be present y described.

plate 156 consists prte c led to cooperate L n i n 115 ab place by rews 175. Connected shat't member a loop 17-53, to which is connected one end ot a flexible connection 1'1"? which passes upward from the top plate and over a guide pulley 1T3 mounted in a bracket 179 suitably seenrc fl t" top of the standard .l-fli". 'lhe rear end. oi. he connection 177 pass-es downward troni the pulley 11'?) and supports a suit-dale count r-balsncing weight 180 which acts by rrrariy to a s st in raising of the top plate to the 'iosition shown in Fin it. hen the top plate the top of to i" I V J -69 first strikes tne projection 168, (end the plate, together with the hinge niemlicr. is then swung on the pivot 160 to the po tion shown in c cd lii W 11c in which the plate or e ed an d th .'ne 5 the rear of toe t to limit swinging movement of the and to cause the same to be in substantial pan allelism to the top surface of the flask when it is about to engage the latter. Vhen the plate is moved upward toward the dotted line position, the engagement between surface 189 and lug 168 plEVGl'llS further relative movement between the plate and the hinge member 161, and causes the rear end of the plate to be lifted clear of the flask without danger of dragging into the sand mold contained in the flask and injuring the mold and casting.

Each top-plate 156 is provided with an equalizing clamp (see Fig. 5), by means of which the'top-plate may be clamped down on the flask so that the latter will be held securely between the top-plate and the bottom board. This clamp comprises a beam lllelllr her 181 consisting of side-bars 182 held in rigid spaced relation by cross-bolts 188 and spacer sleeves 18 1. At one end of said beam is a cross-bolt 185, upon which is pivoted a hanger-piece 186 in which is adjustably threaded, as at 187, a clamping bar 188 having at its lower end a hook 189 adapted to engage under the edge of the bottom-board, as shown in Fig. 4. The opposite end of the beam from the hook 188 is provided with bearing a-pertures 190 (Fig. 5), in which a shaft 191 is mounted rotatably, said shaft having fixed suitably to one end a hand-lever 192 by means of which the shaft may be rotated manually. On the shaft 191 and between the members 182, is an eccentric cam-193, which is located in an opening 194 in a shackle frame 195, also located between members 182. in the opening 19% is slidably arranged a bearing block 196 resting on the upper side of cam 193 and limited in its upward movement in'sa-id opening by a set-screw 196 let through the upper cross-bar of the frame 195. Threaded adjustably into the lower end of the shackle frame 195, as at 197, is one end of clamping bar 198, the lower end of which is pr- "ded with a hook 199 at apted to engage under the ed 'e of the bottom-board in the same manner hook 189. When a flask is placed on the bottom-board and the top-plate lowered into the position shown in full lines in F a, the books 189 and 199 are engaged manually with the opposite edges of the bottom-board, whereupon the workman moves hand-lever 192 toward the left of Fig. 6, thereby causing the cam 193 to lift on shackle 195 and hook 199. When the upward pull exerted on hook 199, the beam 181 fulcrums on she p I the end adjacent hook 199 moving downward, and the opposite end moving up, thereby pulling upon hook 189 and causing the r is to strongly engage the bottom-board. y this means the top-plate is clamped to the flask, and the latter is clamped to the bottomboard or platform. When thetop-plate be lifted, the lever 192 is moved to the posi tion shown in Fig. 6, thereby loosening the hooks 189, 199 sufficiently to permit them be ing disengaged from the bottom-board. The movement of the hand-lever may be arrested by st0p-bolts 200, 201, the former to stop movement of the cam within limits applying pull on bar 198, and the latter limiting the releasing movement of the cam. The beam may have a depending stop-plate 202 bolted thereto and adapted to engage the top-plate to limit movement of beam 181 toward said plate. r

' On the main frame on the opposite side of the rammer rails 56 from the pattern stand, is rigidly mounted a vertically disposed hoisting cylinder 203 (see Figs. 1, and 16), the pisston (not shown) of which actuates a piston rod 204- ronnected to a flexible connection 204 which extends downward through a vertical tube 204?, and is anchored to the lower end of said tube, at 20 1". The tube is housed in a cylindrical shell 20 1 guided be tween rollers 20 1 fixed to the supportmg structure, so that the tube and shell may move up and down, and also rotate on said rollers. The lower end of tube 204 has fired thereto a horizontal crane arm 205, to which is loosely connected a sling, including a beam 206 with flexible connections 20'. provided with loops 207 adapted to engage the gud gone on a flask. This hoisting apparatus is arranged so that the crane arm may be swung horizontally over the pattern stand to permit attachment of the loops 207' to a flask to lift the same and transfer it to a platform or bottom-board on the turntable. It will be understood that the tube 20 1 may be retated to permit swinging of the crane arm and sling. Fluid pressure to move said piston and piston rod to raise the load, is supplied by a pipe 208 conne: ted to the cylinder below the piston, and to a controlvalve 209 located adjacent the molding station for convenient operation by workmen a that point. The valve may be operated by a hand-lever 209 and a shaft 209 suitably connected byan arm 209 to the valve spindle. shown in Fig. 18, may be of simple turnplug type, including a casing 210, having a supply This valve, as

port 211 connected by a pipe 212 to the branch v pipe 17 leading to the main air supply 17. This valve also has an exhaust port 213 and an outlet and return port- 214 to which pipe 208 is connected. The turn plug 215 has a cross port 216, the ends of which are so located that the supply port .211 may be connected to pipe 208 to supply compressed air to the cylinder to raise the piston, or port 211 may be cut oil and port 213 connected to port 21% to permit the fluid in the cylinder to pass tot-he exhaust and the piston to descend. The connections 20? are preferably of different lei hs sothat the flask part will be supported in an inclined position substantially parallel to the supporting s rfaces of the bot tom-boards 146. 1

V The specific crane shown and described is iii) not my invention, and is merely illustrative of one type of horizontally swinging crane arm which may be e ")loyed in comb nation vith the other elements and apparatus constituting my in wmtion. It is to be noted that the crane ar located overhead out of the way of the molders, but it is arranged so as to swing: under the rails 56 upon which the rammer travels. It will also be seen upon reference to Fig". 1. that the crane support and the axis upon win ch the crane pivots is located between the path oi movement of the manner and the path of movement of the turn-table.

l w ll now describe novel means for rotating the turn-table to bring the platform or bottom-boards singly in line with the pattern stand to rece ve flask sections from the stand. 217 designates a vertically disposed power cylinder containing; a piston (not shown) on a dependingpiston rod 218 to the lower end ot which is connected one end of a pull line 219. The pull lnc is gu ded around and beneath a raid sheave 220 and thence passes horizontally between the floor 1 and the turntable, and then over a guide sheave .321 mounted on the main frame and down through an opening; in the floor, the lower tree end of the line carrying; a weight 222 which opposes the power stroke of the piston rod 218. t to the cylinder 217 be Connected need the piston therein is a pipe 223, the other end of which is connected to the branch p pe l? to receive compressed a r therefrom, and in said pipe is a manually operable control valve 22:: located at a pont for convenient op-ration by a workman at station A. This valve may be of the same type shown in 13, and is operable to admit fluid pressure to the cylinder to cause the piston rod to exert a pull in one directon on the line 219. or to cut oil the supply and eX- haustthe flu d from the cylinder to thereby permi the weight 222 to exert a pull in the other d rection on said line. ()n the horizontal portion of the pull line is a pull-button which is held anainst long tudinal movement on the pull line by means of cable clamps 226 (Fig. 12) located at opposite ends of said button.

Secured to the bottom flange of each of the arms or spokes 131 is a bracket plate 227 e Hi having dependingspaced beari between which is arranged a trip lever or pawl 229 hav ng; spaced lugs 230 which s raddle. the pull line 219, said lever beiijia' hung on a transverse p vot pin 231 fixed in said lens. The pawl provided with a stop lug adapted to abut the plate 227 to lim t swing; of the pawl in the direction of travel of the turnthe pawl is free to swim; in the oppos te direction. The lug); which is further from the axis of the turn-table is shorter than the other lug". so as to facilitate entry of the line by lateral movementinto the space between the lugs. By the arrangement described, when pressure fluid is admitted to the cylinder 21?, the piston therein exerts a pull on tie line, bringing the pull-button agaii 230 of pawl 229, which is held aga nst swinging movementby engagement o l the lug against the plate 22?, continued pull on the line serving to rotate the turn-table for the desired distance. lVhen pressure is exhausted from the cylinder, the weight pulls the line in the opposite direction, the button striking the pawl in rear thereof", but the pawl sw ngs on its pivot to permit the button to pass in rear of said pawl and take position to engage the pawl when the table is to be rotated. again. Should the line be displaced from the pawl when the buton trips the pawl, the line readily passes under the shorte' leg; 230 and assumes operative pos tion relative to the pawl.

lhe shake-out station is located preferably adjacent the seventh bottom-board, counting in sequence in the direction of rotation from the board adjacent the pattern stand. At this station is a shake-out hopper 22:33, including a rrame and grill 235, adapted to receive a r aslr part conaining a sand mold to support the flask wnile the sand is being removed. The hopper discharges into a boot 236, which in turn discha cs into the chute l h retoforedescribed. Oi er the hopper and in line with the diameter of the turn table and overlying the path of the platforms. is an overhead flanged horizontal rail 237 supported by a hanger member 23'? supporting a trolley carriage 238 (see Fig. 2) adapted to travel from a point over an adiacent bottom-board 146 to a point over said hopper The trolley carriage supports a pneumatic hoist cylinder containine' a piston (not shown) operating a piston rod 240 supporting a flask slinc 241 adap ed to be attached to flask parts on an adjacent turntable platform to transfer said parts to the shake-out arid. and also to return the 'llrslrs to the turn-table. The hoist cylinder piston is supplied with fluid pressure through a pipe 242, receiving air under pressure from the pipe ll-7", said pipe being: connected to the lower end of the cylinder by means of a flexible hose coupling 24:2 In pipe 242 is a manually operable control valve of any suitable type adapted to be operated by the shake-out worlzrna: to pass air to said cylinder to hoist a ll sit. or to disconnect the cylinder from the supply and connect the cylinder to the exhaust when the load is to be lowered. The valve 243 may be of the same form or type as valve 209, and further description thereot not necessar its operation being readily apparent upon reference to valve 209 (Fig.

The various parts and mechanisms be up; as shown and above described, the operation sesame:

thereof? may be" summarized as follows! It will be. understood'that in-the' preferred embodiment the system or. plant will be furnished with a quota of two-part flasks, for efficient operation the quota being at least equal to the number of bottom-boards or platforms 1&6 on the turn-table. There will alsobe a sufficient supply ofmolding: sand to' keep the hopper 13 substantially filled. l/Vhena mold is to be made in a fia'skor flask section, the molder at the mold-making station A cleans the pattern on the stand 2, this being done preferably by a'blast from the usualair hose 24 1, which may be connected to the pipe 212.

"If chaplets are to be employed for supporting a core, they are then applied tothe pattern and the crane arm205 and sling 206 is operated to lifta flask section, for example, the drag from the next adjacent platform 146, and transfer it to the pattern stand upon which itis set and alined by. any ofthe usual guide-pins or other devices employed for the purpose in foundry practice. Themolder then operates the valve 46 to cause forward movement or descent ofthe sand delivery receptacle from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 7 to the position shown in clottedlines in said figure, this. operation serving to deliver into the flask a sufficient amount "of sandto form a mold. Previous to delivering the sand the molder may apply facing sand to the pattern in the flask. The molding sand having. been delivered, the valve 16 is manually operated to return the sand delivery bucket 29 to the position shown in fulllinesin Fig. 7.- As the carrier frame 24 the pattern stand to ram the sand in the flask.

The molder at station A then strikes the mold with a hand strike in the usual manner, and by means of the valve 209 causes the hoist crane205 and sling 206' to lift the dragsection of the flask from thestand, then rollsthe section over to bring the mold. print uppers most, and deposits the drag on the: platform or bottom-board Mfiwhich. is adjacent and in line with the pattern stand, and which has been previously turned on its pivot to the: position shown in Fig. 1. The steps heretofore set forth are then repeated for theformation of the cope section of the mold, one

molder setting the core, if any, in the drag on the platform while another-molder is-strlking, the cope'a'nd' setting sprues. The crane 205 is operated to set the cope on the drag previously made, and thishaving been done, the bottom-board isturned ninety degrees on'itsaxis so as'to inclinedownwards toward operates valve 224C'to supply air to the cylinder 217 which causes the line 219 to be pulled to bring button 225 against thetrip pawl229 on the sixth arm 131 insequence from the molding station, and thereby rotate the turntable one step in a direction counter-clockwise of Fig. 1, taking the platform at the molding station to the second position. This operation also brings the eighth board in sequence, and carrying an empty flask to the first position at the molding station A to supply an empty flask to the molders and receive the flask after a mold has been made therein,

previously described.

The step by step operation of the turn-' table brings bottom-boards carrying flasks containing molds to the second, third and fourth positions inthe zone E in which the molds-may receive the molten metal to form a casting. The molds maybe poured from a ladle (not shown) suspended'from a trolley travelling'on an overhead'rail R. Continuedrotationof-the table brings the molds into the fifth and sixth positions embracedin the cooling zone F. \Vhen rotation of the table brings a mold containing a casting to the shake-out station G, the shake-out workman unclamps the top-plate'and raises it from the flask, and by means of hoisting cylinder239 lifts the cope from the turntable and'transfers the cope to a position over hopper 233 and shakes the sand out into the hopper. The drag is then lifted and transferred in the same manner, and the casting shaken out over the hopper 233, whereupon the cope and drag are replaced on the'adjacent bottom-board to be returned to the molding station. 7

The system or plant has many advantages, among which the following may be mentioned:

The structure is unitary, and is convenientlyoperable by its individual molding team anda single shake-out workman, thus requiring not more than three men to expeditiously make molds and shake out the castings.

A number of the units may be arranged so as to be independently operable of each other,

device, the ramming-means, and the travel of the turntable are under control of the moldor at the molding station A, due to the fact that the manual controls for these mechanisms are all located at station A in convenient access to the molder. Furthermore, the molder can regulate the time of travel of the turn-table so as to transfer completed molds to the turn-table and through the successive Zones at a proper rate to keep in step with the molds produced at station A to ensure commercial castings. The foregoing is important because in a foundry employing a number of such units, each unit can be operated to the best advantage by its particular crew of three workmen without affecting or being affected by the capabilities of screw operating another unit.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a mold-making device, a reciprocable sand delivery device having a retracted position relative to said mold-malting device, and movable toward the moldmaking device to deliver sand thereto, a rethe ' ciprocable ramming mechanism movable in a path at an angle to the path of movement of the sand delivery device and operable to traverse the mold-making device when the sand delivery device is in retracted position, and a turn-table adjacent the mold-making device and comprising a plurality of moldreceiving platforms to receive molds from said mold-making device and move the same through pouring, cooling andreturn zones 1 to the mold-making device.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a mold-making device, a reciprocable sand delivery device having a retracted position relative to said mold-making device, and movable toward the moldmaking device to deliver sand thereto, a reciprocable ramming mechanism movable in a path at an angle to the path of movement of the sand delivery device and operable to traverse the mold-making device when the sand delivery device is in retracted position, a turn-table adacent the mold-making device and comprising a plurality of mold-receiv ing platforms to receive molds from said mold-making device and move the same through pouring, cooling and return zones to the mold-making device, and means adjacent the mold-malting device for transferring molds from the mold-making device and depositing said molds on said platforms.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a mold-making device, a reciprocable sand delivery device having a retract-ed position relative to said mold-making device, and movable toward the mold-making device to deliver sand thereto, a reciprocable ramming mechanism movable in a path at an angle to the path of movement of the sand delivery device and operable to traverse the mold-making device when the sand delivery device is in retracted position, a turn-table adjacent the mold-making device and comprising a plurality of mold-receiving plat-- forms to receive molds from said mold-making device and move the same through pouring, cooling, shake-out and return zones to the mold-making device, a shake-out apparatus at said shake-out zone, and means for transferring molds from the platforms to said shake-out apparatus.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a mold-making device, a reciprocable sand delivery device having a retracted position relative to said mold-making device, and movable toward the mold-making device to deliver sand thereto, a reciprocable ramming mechanism movable in a path at an angle to the path of movement of said sand delivery devce and operable to traverse the mold-making device when the sand delivery device is in retracted position, a turn-table adjacent the mold-making device and comprising a plurality of mold-receiving platforms to receive molds from said mold-making device and move each of the molds in succession. through a pouring zone, a cooling zone, a shake-out station and a return zone, a shake-out receptacle at the shake-out zone, a tr cl: overlying the turn-table and said receptacle, a mold-transferring device travelling on said track and movable to positions over mold-receiving platform and over said receptacle respectively, and means for rotating said turn-table to bring the platforms successively into position at said mold-making device and in operative relation to said hoisting device.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a mold-making device, a sand delivery device movable toward and from a position to deliver sand to said mold-making device, a turn-table adjacent the mold-making device and comprising a plurality of mold-receiving platforms to receive molds from said mold-making device and move the n1 ldr. through pouring, cooling, shake-out and return zones to the mold-making device, a shake-out receptacle at said shake-out zone, means to deliver molds from said platforms to said shake-out receptacle, and means to convey sand from said receptacle to said sand delivery device.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising a mold-making device, a sand delivery device movable toward and from a position to deliver sand to said mold-making device, a sand receptacle to receive spill sand at said mold-making device, a turn-table adjacent the ll'lOlCl-lllill-Zlflfl device and comprising a plurality of mold-receiving platforms to receive molds from said mold-making device and move the molds through pouring. cooling, shake-out and return zones to the mold-mak ng device, a shakeout receptacle at said shake-out zone, means to deliver molds from said platforms tosaid shake-out recep-' tacle, and means to receive sand from said sand receptacles and deliver the same to said sand delivery devic 7. An. apparatus of the character described comprising an apparatus for making sand molds in a flask, a turn-table rotatable relative to said meld-making apparatus, said turn-table carrying a plurality of flask-receiving platforms, a support adjacent each platform, and a flash top-platemovably con nected toeach support and adapted to be moved into and away from position on a flask carried by the platform.

8. An apparatus of the character described comprising an apparatus for making sant molds in a flask. a turn-table rotatable relative to said mold-making apparatus, said turn-table carrying a plurality of flask-receiving platforms, a support adjacent each platform, a flask top-plate pivot-ally connected to each support and adapted to be raised and lowered relative to a flask carried by the platform. v

9. An apparatus of the character described comprising an apparatus for making sand molds in a flask. a turn-tablerotatable relative to said mold-making apparatus, said turn-table carrying a plurality of flask-receiving platforms, a support adjacent each platform, a flask top-plate pivotally connected to each support and adapted to be raised and lowered relative to a flask carried by the platform, and means associated with each support for elevating said topplate.

10. An, apparatus of the character described comprising'an apparatus for making sand molds in a flask, a turn-tablerotatable relative to said mold-making apparatus, said turn-table carrying a plurality of flask-receiving platforms, a support adjacent each platform. a flask top-plate pivotally connected to each support andadapted tobe raised and lowered relative to a flask carried bythe platform, and counter-balancing means for elevating each top-plate.

11. An apparatus of the character described comprisingan apparatus for making I sand molds in a flask, a turn-tablerotatable relative to said mold-making apparatus, said turn-table carrying a plurality of flask-receiving platforms, a standard ad acent each platform, and a flask top-plate pivot-ally connected to each standard andadapted to be raised and lowered relative to a flask on an adjacent platform.

12. An apparatus of the character described comprising an apparatus for making sand molds in a flask, a turn-table rotatable relative to said mold-making apparatus, said turntablecarrying aplurality of flask-receivingplatforms, a standard: adjacent each platform, a flask top-plate pivotally connected to each standard and adaptedfto be raised andlowered relative to a flask on an adjacent platform, a flexible connection connected to the top-plate and extending over a guide on the standard. and means operable on said flexible connection to elevate the topplate.

13. An apparatus of the character described comprising an apparatus for making sand molds in a flask, a turn-table rotatable relative to said mold-making apparatus, said turn-table carrying a plurality of flask-receiving platforms, a support adjacent each platform, a. flask top-plate movably connected to each support, means associated with each support for elevating the top-plate, and clamping means adapted to secure a top-plate. in position on a flask on a platform.

14. A molding apparatus comprising an apparatus for making a sand mold in a flask, a turn-table rotatable relative to said moldmaking apparatus, said turn-table carrying a plurality of inclined flask-receiving plat forms, and a flask top-plate for each platform, the flask top-plate being connected to the turn-table by means for automatically adjusting said plate to the top plane of a flask carried by the platform.

15. A molding apparatus comprising an apparatus for forming a sand meldfin a flask, a turntable rotatable relative to said moldforming apparatus, said turn-table carrying a plurality of flask-receiving platforms inclined downwards towardthe center of the turn-table, and a top-plate for eachplatform, each top-plate being pivotally connected to the turn-table adjacent the inner end of the platform.

16. A molding apparatus comprising an. apparatus for forming a sand mold in a flask, a turn-table rotatable relative to said moldforming apparatus, said turn-table carrying a plurality of inclined platforms each rotat ably mounted on the turntable, and a flask top-plate for each platform, and meansfor pivotally connecting each top-plate to the turntable.

17. A molding apparatus comprising an apparatus for forming a sand mold in a flask, a turn-table rotatable relative to said moldforming apparatus, said turn-table carrying a plurality of inclined platforms'each rotatably mounted on the turn-table, a flask top-- plate for each platform, means for pivotally connecting each top-plate to the turntable, and clamping means carried by each top-plate and adapted to engage a platform to clamp aflask thereto.

18. A molding apparatus comprising. an apparatus for f-orming a sand mold in a flaslna turn-table rotatable relative to said moldforming apparatus, said turn-table carrying a plurality of inclined platforms each rotatably mounted on the turn-table, afiask, top-plate for eachplatform, means for pivot: allyconnecting each top-plate to the turntable, an equalizing clamp carried by each top-plate and adapted to engage said platform to clamp a flask thereto, and compensating connection between each top-plate and the turn-table whereby the top-plate is ad justed to the top plane of a flask carried by the platform.

19. A turn-table for foundry operations comprising a frame including a center-bearing, radial members extending from said center-bearing, a flask-receiving platform on each of said members, an upright adjacent each of said platforms and supported by the frame, and a flask top-plate pivoted to each of said uprights to swing into and out of position on a flask supported on a platform.

20. A turn-table for foundry operations comprising a frame including a center-bearing, radial members extending from said center-bearing, a flask-receiving platform on each of said members, an upright on each of said members, and a flask top-plate pivoted to each of said uprights to swing into and out of position on a flask supported on a platform.

21. A turn-table for foundry operations comprising a frame including a center-bearing, radial members extending from said center-bearing, a flask-receiving platform rotatable on each of said members, an upright on ach of said members, and a flask top-plate pivoted to each of said uprights to swing intoand out of position on a flask on a platform.

22. A turn-table for foundry operations comprising a frame including a center-bearing, radial members extending from said center-bearing, a flask-receiving inclined platform mounted to turn on a vertical axis on each member, an upright on each of said members, and a flask top-plate pivoted to each of said uprights to swing into and out of position on a flask on a platform.

23. A turn-table of the character described comprising a frame, a center-bearing for the frame, a plurality of mold-receiving platforms arranged in circular relation on said frame, a movable flask top-plate associated with each platform and pivoted to the frame,

i a plurality of trip-dogs arranged in circular series on the frame and concentric therewith, and means adapted to engage said tripdogs individually to rotate the turn-table.

2- A turn-table of the cha 'acter described comprising a frame, a center-bearing for the frame, a plurality of mold-receiving platforms arranged in circular relation on said frame, a movable flask top-plate associated I with each platform and pivoted to the frame,

kid

. movement in the other direction, and means adapted to engage said trip-dogs individually to swing the dog in said other direction to thereby rotate the turn-table.

25. A turn-table of the character described comprising a frame, a center-bearing for the frame, a plurality of n'iold-r'eceiving platforms arranged in circular relation on said frame, a movable flask top-plate associated with each platform and pivoted to the frame, a plurality of trip-dogs arranged in circular series on the frame and concentric therewith, and reciprocable means adapted to engage said trip-dogs individually to rotate the turn-table,

26. A turn-table of the character described comprising a frame, a center-bearing for the frame, a plurality of mold-receiving platforms arranged in circular relation on said frame, a movable flask top-plate associated. with each platform and pivoted to the frame, a plurality of trip-dogs arranged in circular series on the frame and concentric therewith, each of said trip-dogs being pivoted to swing free in one direction and having means to limit swinging movement in another direction, and reciprocable means adapted to engage said trip-dogs to cause the same to engage the limiting means to rotate the turn-table.

27. A turn-table of the character described comprising a frame, acenter-bearing for the frame, a plurality of mold-receiving platforms arranged in circular relation on said frame, a movable flask top-plate associated with each platform and pivoted to the frame, a plurality of bifurcated tripdogs arranged in circular series on the frame and concentric therewith, each of said tripdogs being pivoted to swing free in one direction and having a stop to limit movement in another direction, a reciprocable member cooperable with said trip-dogs and movable in the bifurcation thereof, said member having means adapted upon movement of said member in one direction to engage a trip-dog to thereby rotate the turntable, and upon movement of said member in the other direction to swing the trip-dog on its pivot to clear said means.

28. A turn-table of the character described comprising a frame, a center-bearing for the frame, a plurality of mold-receiving platforms arranged in circular relation on said frame, a movable flask top-plate associated with each platform and pivoted to the frame, a plurality of bifurcated tripdogs arranged in circular series on the frame and concentric therewith, each of said tripdogs being pivoted to swing free in one direction and having a stop to limit movement in another direction, a reciprocable flexible member cooperable with said trip-d gs and movable in the bifurcation thereof, said flX- ible member having a projection adapted upon movement of said member in one direction to engage a trip-dog to thereby rotate 

